Saturday 16 June 2018

Fledging begins - plus some updates


Report on Watch Point 23 June:
The big female juvenile was on the silk mill chimney all day. Didn't seem to want to move although at one point it was wandering around up there and did some wing flapping when the adult flew about with food. Almost looked like it couldn't get enough lift to take off. The food was left for it and the male juvenile also flew on there to have a feed. The male juv is flying confidently. The female on the platform was doing some wing flapping and keeps sitting higher up on the middle point of the box where goes around the stone work. We had 174 visitors! Helen Naylor.

Update 25 June: it seems the final female chick has fledged.
Reports yesterday suggested the male had flown and was sitting up on a roof nearby.
Males rarely come to ground so now he's made one good flight he should be OK.
The Watch Point today (16th) will look for him and report back if they find him.
the two much heavier females may not fledge for a few days yet.....we'll see!
This morning is damp and cloudy with the prospect of showers - not the sort of weather that chicks usually fledge under.
UPDATE mid morning Saturday 16th: the news from the Watch Point is that the juvenile male
(a 'chick' no longer!) is on the roof of the tall hotel nearby with its mother standing guard....so we don't need to worry about him! His sisters are unlikely to fledge today given the weather and their remaining fluff!
UPDATE Saturday pm: Antony and Helen at the WP report that the young male flew back to the tower landing a bit lower than they would have liked (and it would have liked too I suspect!).
It's a windy day and flying isn't easy round buildings because of the turbulence. He should be OK though.
The WP was fairly quiet both of people and 'bird action' but it was good to see a grey wagtail collecting insects on the grass nearby and flying off to a building to feed its young.
And in Swift Awareness Week  (see below)- it was also great to see a few swifts zooming past the tower!

And we apologise about the problems with the cams.....beyond our control over the weekend certainly though it seems that at least some are now working again.

The Project Team

Ps If you are in Derby or can get to today's Watch Point do please go and help the team to find the male....

Pps. On another subject, today marks the start of Swift Awareness Week (16-23 June) with 90 local events running around the UK. Swifts have declined by over 50% in the last 25 years so they need our help and a raised profile!
To find out if there is an event near you go to this map, enlarge it and click on a 'swift' near you.
The full details will appear on the left of your screen. Do support events near you if you can.
tinyurl.com/SLNSAW2018map .

UKSAW - there are five events in Derbyshire (in Chaddesden (Derby) and Bakewell on Tuesday (19th), Hathersage (20th), Chesterfield (22nd ) and Melbourne 23rd.
Please support them if you can,,,full details are on the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust website:https://www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/events .

Swifts are fascinating birds which only touch the earth when they need to lay eggs. They nest inside our roofs and under our tiles but when buildings are renovated  the tiny holes they need to access their nests get blocked up and the birds are suddenly homeless.
Two swifts looking for a non-existent hole to nest in. Photo David Naylor
And there's a fab web cam in Poland which is inside a swift's nest. The birds have four eggs soon to hatch - well worth a look - you might even get hooked!

http://jerzyki-webcam.pl/Webcam

91 comments:

Heather said...

Pleased to see all webcams working except cam 4 which is frozen. Hope the watch point watchers, or anyone else, manage to locate the male, I'm rooting for this little guy! Hope parents don't just concentrate on feeding the two females and forget about him. One female is particularly larger than the other so fingers crossed her maiden flight is successful.

One swifts' nest on nearby building which fortunately doesn't have these plastic soffits which have sadly contributed greatly to the decline of their nesting sites. Another bird I haven't heard for many a year is the cuckoo despite living in the countryside.

Helen said...

The young bird that fledged yesterday is safe and well, sitting on the nearby hotel. Both adults are sitting next to it and are keeping a very close watch on it!

Heather said...

Phew that's a reief knowing the adventurous 'juvenile' male is safe and well with parents keeping an eye on him.

Vicky said...

One female sitting on ledge and the other sitting behind her. I went to cam 1 and it wasn't working. 3 showed only one chick. I went to 4 and saw both. So glad the male is doing fine.

Vicky said...

Actually 4 is frozen. But I checked 3 again and yes there are still 2.

kate said...

Morning Vicky
Good news indeed.

Page 1 2 and three ok and Two females sleeping, one on edge of tray and tuther in the middle.

Vicky said...

Good morning to you too Kate. Both awake now and probably missing their brother. I think number 2 will go on Monday or Tuesday. Once they get on the ledge they see to go soon.

Wendy Bartter said...

Realise that I posted my comment on cam status on previous page ... can see one 'page 3' girl this morning! Lol

Sue Hetherington said...

Good news to hear one of the Derby juvenile peregrines is safely fledged - two to go!

Thanks for the swift news on the Derby blog and yes I agree, that Polish webcam is great. If you aren't aware, we also have a wonderful UK project located in Oxford though. There are swift nest boxes and a webcam on one of them installed in the tower of the Oxford Natural History Museum. The website is here http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/swifts.htm

Peregrine Class said...

We can see all three chicks back on the platform this afternoon. The bird that fledged on friday has come back. It must be getting better at flying and landing.

Vicky said...

Just 2 on the scrape right now. One is resting and the other lying down but head on edge of scrape. Too soon they too will fledge.

Vicky said...

One was just on the edge and flapping her wings so fast, the other in the scrape flapping too.

Helen said...

I think the fledged youngster is enjoying taking to the air. I've just watched him fly off from the platform and return a few seconds later. He certainly is a lot more confident than he was on Saturday.

Wendy Bartter said...

Missed that action Helen but did get this earlier of all three on scrape with a good size comparison between thhe two girls ... only just struck me how much bigger the one is!! ...https://youtu.be/AZS1yQTQSko

Wendy Bartter said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Vicky said...

One of the girls was sitting on the ledge on one foot and preening. Smartie pants! The other is lying low. Now both off the ledge.

Vicky said...

Both girls sitting on the ledge!

Vicky said...

One is so much smaller I wonder if we have 2 males and a female. Did they tell us at banding time what they were for sure?

Heather said...

Hi Vicky
Still two on the scrape, and as you say one is so much smaller than the other it's very easy to think it's a little male. I've checked back on the comments and where The Team give information about the ringing process the numbers are 033, 034 and 035 - 545 grms male, 815 and 665 grms females.

I thought the larger female might fledge this morning as hadn't noticed any prey in scrape and thought parents were trying to lure them out, but notice there's prey remains in scrape now. From other comments it seems the juvenile male has mastered flying quite well and has returned to visit his sisters a couple of times. Perhaps we'll have the pleasure of the company of the smaller female for a little longer once her sister fledges - this season has sadly seemed to "fly" by!

Unknown said...

The smallest of the two remaining seems to be having trouble with his/her leg ring?

Noggin the Nog said...

Stills web cam isn't working.

Wendy Bartter said...

Big Sister seems ready for the off ...https://youtu.be/uUsTb_hBePM

Knocks little Sis into scrape then jumos up on side of box ...https://youtu.be/hX438Hzwqxs

Wendy Bartter said...

EDIT: looks as if it was little Sis on side of box?

kate said...

Mum just brought a feed, both hungry ..17.16.on Scrape at moment

Vicky said...

Both just looking out. Largest one on the edge, the other behind her.

Heather said...

Not sure what just happened but looked from markings as if male juvenile joined two sisters in scrape and was happily eating a feather and some scraps. I looked away for a moment and a fight ensued over prey which perhaps was dropped into scrape by parent. This was held over edge of scrape and taken away but not sure if it was by juvenile male.

Wendy Bartter said...

I lost all the cams for a while earlier this evening & missed all that Heather! Came back during this odd feed where adult fed one then flew off with prey then brought it back again, fed the same juvie, other wasn't interested 'til it was all gone!
..https://youtu.be/_0CIiC-zdfQy

Vicky said...

Both sleeping right now.

Heather said...

Male juvie arrived on scrape several minutes ago next to larger female who doesn't seem too happy about it! Smaller female as usual showing no interest whatsoever in proceedings at other end of scrape. Thanks Wendy for video certainly an odd feed, wasn't what I saw as it was once again male juvie in scrape. He seems to like to return quite often, don't remember this happening in previous years but may be wrong. He certainly fledged early, and if the larger sister doesn't leave soon she may not be able to take off at all!

Vicky said...

All 3 on the scrape right now. The youngest is still not on the ledge. Nice that the male comes back so often. Brings the females up to date on what is going on I guess.

Wendy Bartter said...

Lol Heather, she certainly is a BIG girl!

Unknown said...

Hi all. Is anyone else having issues with cam 1?

Dawn Billings said...

Yes. Is the bigger girl there ? She was a couple of hours ago.

Vicky said...

Both on the ledge, looks like a pink and a yellow band on the scrape from another type of bird I guess. Cam one a little intermittent right now. I think was 2 years ago we had two big females that were very aggressive and a small boy who stayed close to mom when she was around.

Vicky said...

All cams down at the moment.

Heather said...

All cams working now. Both females on edge of scrape so big sister looks like staying yet another night. Juvenile male was in scrape for quite sometime this morning probably hoping for an easy meal as was calling quite loudly. However when prey did arrive big sister grabbed it but neither the sister or male juvie attempted to take it from her - no wonder she's so big!

Wendy Bartter said...

More feeding ...https://youtu.be/Ak_vrCu9XII

Vicky said...

Both sitting on the ledge. Just looking out.

Wendy Bartter said...

Bedtime ...https://youtu.be/ETRKDMF33Ms

Vicky said...

It must be raining as they both look like they have wet feathers. I am going to miss them.

kate said...

Morning
Can only see one this morning

Vicky said...

Yes, there is only one. The big girl was sure looking around during the night. She was ready. Now we will probably only have this one for a day or 2. I have enjoyed every minute of the nesting and now the fledging. So sad for us to see them take off as now they are not going to be in the scrape very often. This year I missed seeing both fledge. One year I saw one fly and 2 get pushed off. Lets enjoy while we can. Nice to talk or listen to all of you who made comments.

Vicky said...

3 in the scrape right now. One eating like it is starving.

Vicky said...

How fast it changes. Now there are 2. The little male and the smaller female. It was the larger female come back for food. She probably saw a parent bringing food.

Vicky said...

Aww, mom or dad just flew in with prey and is feeding the little one. So sweet. She has been squawking for awhile and seems very hungry.

Heather said...

So big sister has finally fledged. Woke around 3am and logged in to see both looking out on edge of scrape, must have left possibly at first light. Perhaps little female will get plenty of prey to eat now she doesn't have to compete. Agree Vicky it's been a great season and will be over all too soon and I suspect we'll all experience a few withdrawal symptoms! The new tiercel has proved to be a good provider for the second year running.

Wendy Bartter said...

Just catching up, thanks for all your observations ... sad to have missed the moment Big Sis took to the skies ... Little Sis looks pensive here ...https://youtu.be/cVm1gYKXURo

Oak class, Derbyshire said...

We have loved watching the peregrines. We have learnt so much!
Thank you for putting the videos on the internet for us to see.

We have been watching the last juvenile this morning. It has been moving around and stretching its wings. We saw it still has some of its white fluffy feathers... will it fledge before they fall out?
We are still surprised at how fast the chicks have grown!

kate said...

Well spotted Heather, thanks for posting that info appreciated.

Helen said...

Looks like the big female juvenile is back on the platform at the moment.

Helen said...

Just looked again and I think it may be the male juvenile that is back on the platform rather than the female. Tricky to say for sure!

Heather said...

Larger bird just left scrape so little female alone again. Agree it's difficult to tell them apart now.

kate said...

Mum was just feeding little one, slipped and spooked so flew off with prey.
Two Pics on Flickr

Wendy Bartter said...

Judging by the noise I think Little Sis doesn't like being on her own ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8ql8iHdt3w

Heather said...

Little Sis wide awake (like me!) looking very forlorn on edge of scrape. Moved into scrape then back onto ledge, now facing outwards and surveying surroundings no doubt wondering where everyone's gone. I heard her looking up at the same time she was being very vocal too Wendy, perhaps parents were about or one of her siblings.

kate said...

Still on the ledge calling, Mum arrived with breakfast, but little one continued calling and Mum had to force the food on the little one, Mum tried moving away on the Tray, little one would not follow to take any food, Mum came onto ledge alongside, little one still not taking food, Mum flies off with prey.
Hmm! not sure if little one, is Ok.

Hope the gay will prove to be better.

kate said...

Apologies for spelling ( previous post) meant 'day'

Little one looks as though made way up the centre strut and sitting quietly on topof pipe covering.

Heather said...

Watching this rather unusual behaviour too Kate, never seen one do this before. Having to be virtually forced to take food is rather worrying, perhaps pining for big sister as always seem to cosy up together at night but remained aloof during day. Difference in size seemed unusual too in relation to dates of hatching. The juvie male totally different and couldn't wait to fledge, at least the weather seems set to be fine.

Heather said...

"I've got big sis back to keep me company, feeling much better"!

Wendy Bartter said...

Is this Mum? ...https://youtu.be/sMUG6nZLzAU

Wendy Bartter said...

Beginning to wonder if Little Sis could be a male, looking small & sleek now down has gone? I know this question has been raised earlier, was a very in- between weight at ringing?
https://youtu.be/hn3rQkUXFV0

Wendy Bartter said...

https://youtu.be/AdVyZjIeoBM

Anonymous said...

We have been watching these too since they were born and worried also little juvinille isnt eating too well. We think its the brother is on the ledge with little one as if attempting to get it to fledge. Parents have been and tried to feed it little one seems hungry but for some reason seems to not want to or can't eat. Fingers crossed today brings better viewing.

Anonymous said...

No birds in the box at all think its time to say goodbye to them all we've been watching since way before the eggs were even thought about its been an amazing journey watching them all grow up well done to everyone

Wendy Bartter said...

They are both there, see cams on pages 3 & 4!

Wendy Bartter said...

It was Mum feeding her baby, seemed to want the food this time! Stream kept freezing unfortunately ...https://youtu.be/Hcg-p0wpqBw

Stickofrock said...

Not sure who is who but atm there's a fit fully fledged bird tucking into a big prey. The other peregrine (still with bits of fluffy down) is sitting on the middle partition watching. No attempt to ask for food

Vicky said...

Little one sitting facing in and looks wet. I too hope all is well with her. I've thought it was a male too. The last one usually takes a few days to go. But at least she has had visits from her sister and brother so that helps her feel better. Has her eyes closed.

Vicky said...

She has been flapping her wings so maybe today is the day. Her fluff is pretty much gone so it is time.

Anonymous said...

Mummy came back

Unknown said...

Mum had prey feeding ?young male who then flew off. Little one had a small bit. Mum then flew off with the prey.

Heather said...

Little male/female (who knows?), just received some company - male/female parent, male juvie, large sister (who knows)!

Wendy Bartter said...

Looks like adult on far scrape Heather but can't really tell for sure which one!

Wendy Bartter said...

Possibly Dad keeping watch, was just cleaning foot & thought I could see ring!

Wendy Bartter said...

On her own on cam 1 page 4 now!

Wendy Bartter said...

See she's still with us, page 4 only!

kate said...

Page 4 Cam 1 and
Page 3 Cam 2.. Hugging and hanging on Bless!!!

But Page 1 with sound not working again.

Watch point team said...

Good news from the watch point. All three youngsters are viewable at the moment and are doing well.

Heather said...

Only Cam 3 working at moment (states page not found on all others). Glad watch point able to view all three youngsters, parents must be having busy time locating and feeding them all.

Can't believe male juvie fledged 8 days ago. Little sis needs to toughen up and be a bit more aggressive when food is brought to scrape and other juvies join in, always seems to hang back.

Anonymous said...

watchpoint report.
There was another event happening on the green today, this made the area a lot busier than usual.
The weather was fair without bright sunlight so ideal for any bird wishing to fledge!
It took a little time to locate the 2 fledged chicks. The little male is flying confidently and had a few flights with dad. The fledged female only made a short flight. Mum spent some time perched near her.
What can we say regarding the chick on the platform. We had a lot of, I think she is about to go, oh no!!As with all youngsters she will do it in her own time.
Other birds seen today, a buzzard flew close to the platform and we thought an adult may object but they clearly think they are no longer at risk. We had a grey wagtail chick on the cathedral. Late in the day a heron flew over.
Over a hundred and fifty people attended the watchpoint today, as usual some regular visitors and some people just visiting the city. We enjoyed meeting them all and helping to share these special birds with them. The watchpoint team

kate said...

Thanks for Watchpoint update.
ONLY Page 1 not working at mo.

Tiercel visited slate end this morning, little one did not move from far end, just watched, he left after a few minutes, little one moved to centre but has not flown up, and is now back on the edge of the pebble side.

Heather said...

Hi Kate, all Cams working with me at moment. Tiercel brought prey late yesterday and little female able to be fed alone without siblings interrupting. Noticed she sometimes had difficulty taking the food from parent even in small pieces therefore didn't get as much as she could have. Wasn't full up as was crying out to be fed more, parent gave up and left prey in scrape. Obviously needs to be like larger sister and grab prey as soon as it's brought to scrape and consume it on her own, guess she hasn't got to that stage yet. As Team said she'll get there in her own good time and week ahead looks good for fledging.

Vicky said...

She is asleep on the edge.

Vicky said...

Now she is awake on the edge and calling.

Heather said...

Can't see little sis on all Cams, has she fledged?

Unknown said...

7.25 i have put a post but its not gone on

Unknown said...

Wow well 7.25am we had the privilege of watching the last little girl fly off had to triple check all cams to make sure good luck to all 3 on their new adventure

Anonymous said...

I have been watching for 2 hours, moved away and now there is no sign of her. Last I saw her she was sitting high up on the ledge. She may of cause have fledged, we are all hoping, however there are areas up there where the birds get and we cannot see them. fingers crossed Chris M

Unknown said...

My partner saw her fly off she was sat left of the scrape and flew over the silk mill

Vicky said...

Good luck to her.

kate said...

Thanks Nattalie so lovely you and Hubby can see them live, and that you witnessed fly off ... soooooooo exciting..

This morning not sure but think possibly Little Miss( she looked more confident,) was on the edge when I checked in, then flew off.

Pics on Flickr.